Lamp-tilting device



H. H. KUNZE.

LAMP TILTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1.o. 1921.

Patented Mar. 28, E922.

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LAMP-TILTIN'G DEVICE.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERMAN H. KUNzE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Marissa, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Tiltin Devices, of

which the followis a ful ,v clear, and exact description,

in reerence being had to the accompanyingl drawings, tion.

My invention relates to improvements in lamp tilting. devices especially designed for use on automobiles and having manually controlled means for varying the angle of the beam of light.

My object is to provide a lamp mounting, and means for moving same to vary the angle of the lamp with respect to the horizontal, of simple and inexpensive construction, capable of ready installation, simple in its operation and whose operating connections, include elements which tend to prevent accidental tilting of the lamp.

My improvements consist in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully, clearly and concisely set forth, definitely pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in whichig. I is an elevation, partly in section, of a headlight and operating means constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. II is a transverse sectional elevation, taken approximately on the line designated II- II of Fig. I.

Referring to the drawings, by numerals, 1 designates the side members of the chassis, shown as channel-beams, as in common and each provided adjacent its forward end with holes 2, in its flanges,4 inside the web, for receiving the vertical stems 3 of the lamp supportlng posts 4. By preference said stems 3 are threaded andv provided with nuts 5l whereby the posts may be adjusted vertically with respect to the chassis.

Each post is provided at its upper end with a socket bearing 6 and is so shaped that said socket occupies a position both for- -forming a part of this specifica- -wardly and laterally removed from the stems, and as shown in Fig. II each bearing 6 is provided with a cap 7, having a cavity for a sprin 8 and a spring-tensioning device in the form of a plug 9 threaded in the spring cavity.

Each bearing' constitutes a support for Specification of Letters Patent.

Iapplication led March 10, 1921.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922., Serial No. 451,418.

a horizontal trunnion 10, formed as an integral part of a yoke 11, shaped to embrace the lamp 12 and said yoke and lamp are secured together by the perforated ears 13 laterally projecting lat each side of the lamp and the threaded stems 14 extending from the yoke, with nuts which engage the ears 13. As shown in Fig. II, I provide a pair of such yokes which I preferably form integral with a horizontal rod 15, whereby the two lamps, with which automobiles are regularly equipped, may be synchronously operated upon a movement of either yoke.

The lamp moving means comprises a bell crank, composed of arms 16 and 17, which is mounted in a bearing 18 secured to the chassis at the rear of one of the lamp supporting posts 3, an operating rod 19, which is connected with the arm 16 of the bell crank and extends to a point conveniently accessible to the operator, a sprin 20 for normally holding the bell crank in the position shown by Fio. I, an adjustable abutment screw 21 for selectively establishing the normal position of the bell crank and a connecting rod 22 between the bell crank and one of the yokes 11.

The arm 17 of the bell crank terminates in a ball 23, which is fitted in a socket bearing 24, constructed similarly to the bearings 6 and provided with a threaded bore for the reception of the threaded end 26 of the connecting rod 22. Similarly the forward end of the rod 22 is connected wit-h a ball 2 7 whose stem 28 is connected with a yoke 11, by means such asl threads, vertically adjusted.

The ball 27 is located in a socket 24 provided with a spring 8ZL whereby the ball is retained in engagement with its seat. 9L designates a plug screwed into the socket 24 to provide an adjustable seat for the spring 8a. The socket 24 is provided with a vplug 9b and spring 8b adapted to retain the ball 23 in engagement with its seat. After the sockets 24 and 24 are properly adjusted on the threaded ends of the connecting rod 22, they may be secured through the medium of nuts 30 mounted on said threaded ends and adapted to engage the respective sockets.

It is to be observed (Fig. I) that the pivotal point 17 of the bell crank, the ball 23 and ball 27 are inhorizontal alinement with each other, so as to normally hold the pivotally supported lamps in substantially horipreferably whereby it may be Zontal positions. Arising out of this arrangement there results a dead center which tends to stabilize the connection between the operating rod 19 and the pivoted lamps tox the end that undesirable 1pivotal movements of the lamps are minimized.

By reason of the threaded stems 3 of the lamp supporting posts and the threaded stem of the ball 27 a relatively wide range of adjustment is obtained in the positioning of the ball 27 at the forward endof the operating means, to preserve its alinement with the ball 23 and pivotal point of the bell crank. However, this alinement is ordinarily obtained by adjusting the .screw 21 which engages the bearing 18.-

The yokes 11, their connecting element 15, their supporting trunnions 10 and lamp securing means such as the threaded stems 14 are constructed as a unit, hence the construction is simple, strong and economical.

In the employment of bearings including springs 8, 8a and 8b exerting pressure on the balls, the apparatus as a whole is carried with a minimum of rattle and vibration.

With the apparatus assembled as shown, it will be obvious that the lamps may be set to positions to cast their rays forwardly in a horizontal direction, which is desirable for distant illumination but which is objectionable to pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles. Therefore, the lamps may be moved by a manipulation of the rod 19, to cast their rays at an angle to their normal carrying position, and out of the direct line of the eyes of personsin advance ofthe automobile.

I claim:

l. In an apparatus of the class described, a post having a bearing at its upper end, a yoke supported for rocking movements upon said post, a bell crank, a flexible connection between said yoke and bell crank, a spring for holding the bell crank in its normal position, a manipulative element connected with the bell crank, and means for adjusting said connection to aline its points of lexure.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of connected yokes, a lamp supported in each yoke, trunnions carried by said connected yokes, posts having bearings for said trunnions, a bell crank, a manipulative element for the bell crank, a spring for normally holding the bell crank in its normal position, a jointed connection between said connected yokes and bell crank, and means for adjusting the connection to locate its joints in alinement with each other.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of connected yokes, a lamp supported in each yoke, trunnions. carried by said connected yokes, posts having bearings for said trunnions, a bell crank, a manipulative element for the bell crank, a spring for normally holding the bell crank in its normal position, a jointed connection between said connected yokes and bell crank, and means for adjusting the connection to locate its joints in alinement with each other, the joints of said connection comprising balls and sockets and springs bearing on said balls.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

HERMAN H. KUNZE. 

